ericjones12398 writes: "Today, many developed and developing countries including European Union nations, Australia, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh and Vietnam apply excise taxes on unhealthy products. Research has shown that both for tobacco and alcohol, excise taxes are an effective way of reducing consumption. With respect to tobacco, a 10 percent price increase in cigarettes is shown to reduce demand by 4 percent in high-income countries and by 8 percent in low-middle income countries. Taxes imposed on cigarettes have not only prevented people from starting to smoke, but have also reduced rates of relapse for those who recently quit smoking."

The problem with this idea is that IT IS NONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S GODDAMNED BUSINESS WHAT I EAT, DRINK, OR SMOKE.

Period. End of story.

Government has no place spending my money in order to control what other people consume. At least in the U.S., that is most definitely not a legitimate role of government and constitutes an egregious overreach.